Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear

By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson, 4th IBCT (ABN), 25th IDDecember 16, 2013

Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
1 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. William Baker (left), an infantryman with Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 1-40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, works to secure his equipment in preparation for follow-on movement after succes... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
2 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Bruce Henderson, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, uses crossed ski poles to steady his aim Dec. 12, 2013, at the Malemute Dr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
3 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – First Lt. David Pearson with the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, takes a knee as he waits for another paratrooper to secure his equipment after successfully exiting a C-130 Her... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
4 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A paratrooper with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, moves off the drop zone after successfully exiting a C-130 Hercules Alaska Air National Guard aircraft, Dec. 12, 2013, at the Malemute Drop Zone at Joint Base... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
5 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Bruce Henderson, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, skis off the drop zone after successfully exiting a C-130 Hercules Alaska ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
6 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Richard M. Scott, commander of the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, works to secure his T-11 parachute after successfully exiting a C-130 Hercules Alaska Air National G... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
7 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A paratrooper with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, prepares for a parachute landing fall after leaping from the tailgate of a C-130 Hercules Alaska Air National Guard aircraft, Dec. 12, 2013, at the Malemute D... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
8 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Paratroopers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, leap from the tailgate of a C-130 Hercules Alaska Air National Guard aircraft, Dec. 12, 2013, at the Malemute Drop Zone at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Ala... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spartan paratroopers jump in arctic gear
9 / 9 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Bruce Henderson, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, secures his equipment in preparation for follow-on movement after successf... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (Dec. 16, 2013) -- For the first time since returning from Afghanistan last year, U.S. Army Alaska's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted an arctic airborne operation, Dec. 12, from a C-130 aircraft onto Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson's Malemute Drop Zone.

Paratroopers conducted a unique "tailgate" jump, donning the complete arctic over-white winter uniform with ski equipment and the arctic sustainment packing list as a rehearsal for upcoming airborne operations in northern Alaska next year.

The purpose for conducting arctic airborne training events is to maintain mission readiness for operating in arctic conditions, whether in conflict, humanitarian support or military support to civil authorities mission sets.

Staff Sgt. Bruce Henderson, an infantry paratrooper assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), said the Soldiers are getting a feel for jumping with the equipment.

"We are testing out jumping with the skis and the capabilities to see if we can start implementing it in our training," Henderson, a native of Keystone Heights, Fla., said. "The skis would give us a lot more mobility on the battlefield."

Once on the ground, the jumpers de-rigged their equipment and skied to the rally point on the drop zone.

Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Richard M. Scott said this jump would give his paratroopers a new experience and prepare them future arctic training events.

"We need to have the arctic equipment that includes our skis and poles," Scott said. "We are evaluating and rehearsing how we fight in our skis and how we move in them."

Despite the weather, no one was feeling it, according to Scott.

"This just validates to all of our paratroopers that you can give any challenge or task to a paratrooper and we can come out here and do it and get the job done in these types of conditions," Scott said.

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